Flasher switch



Jan. 18, 1955 R HARMON 2,700,083

FLASHER SWITCH Filed March 22, 1952 INVENTOR. LUZ/78f Harmon.

BY MM United States Patent FLASHER SWITCH Luther R. Harmon, Chicago,lll.,,assignor of one-half to Fred J. Burt, Brookville, Ohio ApplicationMarch 22, 1952, Serial No. 278,000

4 Claims. (Cl. 200-113) This invention relates to a flasher switch andconcerns itself primarily with a structure having a control circuit anda load circuit in which the load current is independent of the controlcurrent so that the latter will always function properly under varyingloads or no load at all; in which the parts are so designed that thelight bulbs will be completely and fully illuminated with fullbrilliancy as soon as the main switch is closed and in which theelectrical contacts will produce a wiping action to reduce theobjectionable transfer of contact material.

More specifically, the invention comprises a spring flipper made ofberyllium copper or other suitable material and having a boweddeflectable portion connected in series with the light bulbs and athermo-responsive wire connected to-the flipper and then directly toground, a source of energy and a conductor extending from the source ofenergy for normally engaging the bowed portion of the flipper where thecurrent splits, a part going thru the flipper to the light bulbs and apart going thru the thermowire directly to ground and hence to thesource of energy; thus making the control current independent of theload current.

At the present time, the flasher switches of this type now on the marketexamples of which are illustrated in Patent Nos. 2,357,635 and 2,308,522have the light bulbs in series with the control circuit or thermowirewith the result that variations of any material extent in the lamp loadis impossible since neither the light bulbs or control circuit willfunction properly under appreciable variations in lamp loads. In certainvariations, the light bulbs will not'flash at all, but will only flickerand the thermowire will not function properly. This objection isovercome in having the load current independent of the control currentin accordance with the present invention. A further objection toswitches now on the market is that they do not-illuminate the lightbulbs with full brilliancy; the switch herein produces a much higherdegree of brilliancy.

One of the important objects of the present invention is to provide aflasher switch that includes a novel flipper unit carrying a contactelement that cooperates with a contact element on a current carryingarm, there being also provided a thermo-responsive wire associated withthe flipper for actuating the flipper under certain conditions to causethe flipper to move away from the arm and separate the contact elementsfrom each other.

A further object is to provide a flasher switch wherein all of theaforementioned parts are mounted on a suitable insulated basewithcontact terminals connected to the respective parts.

Another important object is to provide a flasher switch of the abovementioned character wherein the flipper member includes a bowed portioncarrying a contact element that normally is in circuit closingengagement with a contact element on the current carrying arm, the bowedportion being biased to effect such contact engagement relationship.

With these and other objects in view, this invention comprises the novelstructure and combination of parts hereinafter described and moreparticularly pointed out and defined in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing which illustrates a preferred form of thisinvention and in which similar reference numerals refer to similarfeatures in the different views:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a thermo-responsive switch involvingthis invention showing the parts in initial positions,

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing the parts in lights offpositions,

Fig. 3 is an edge view of a flipper constituting a part of thisinvention,

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the flipper shown in Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is an edge view of said flipper similar to Fig. 3 but showingparts in different positions and Fig. 6 is a wiring diagram of thecircuit of the switch.

In referring now to the drawing, there is shown an electrical currentconductive flipper 7 which is in the form of a plate made of berylliumcopper. The flipper is provided with a bowed portion 8 adjacent one sideedge, by cutting a slot 9 spaced a short distance from the edge of theplate; the distance of the slot from the edge of the flipper determiningthe width of the bowed portion 8 which of course can be varied. From thelower end of the slot 9, there is a crimp 10 which extends to theopposite edge of the flipper, which crimp shortens the flipper andcauses the slitted margin to bow to one side of the plate. Adjacent theupper end of the flipper, there is a strengthening rib 11 which extendsdownwardly from the top upon the opposite side of the center line of theflipper from the bowed portion 8.

The bowed or deflectable portion 8 of the flipper which is spring-likeis located adjacent one edge of the flipper so a marginal portionconstitutes the bowed portion which can snap from one side to the otherof the flipper. By placing the bowed portion 8 at the margin, it has amore sensitive action than if it were placed in the middle of theflipper with rigid side margins. This sensitive action makes the switchmore responsive to the action of the thermo-responsive wire and reducesthe necessary tension in the flipper for deflecting the bowed portion 8.Adjacent the upper end of the flipper 7, there is a securing means 12which may be in the form of a peg or pin for the attachment of thetherrno-responsive wire 13.

The lower end of the flipper is rigidly secured to an insulated base 14by means of an angle clip 15 and the thermowire 13 which is connected tothe securing means 12 extends at a suitable angle to the base 14 whereit is anchored as indicated at 16. From the anchor 16, the thermowireextends directly to ground as indicated at 17 which leads to thebattery. Between the anchor 16 and ground 17, the wire 13 may beprovided with resistance coils 18 if such should be needed.

A substantially rigid electrical conductor 19 is secured to the baseupon the opposite side of the flipper from the wire 13 and is inelectrical connection with a battery terminal or post 20. This conductorhas a bevelled contact button 19a at its upper end. Opposite the button19a and upon the opposite side of the flipper, there is a stationarystop 21. When the wire 13 is cool and contracted, the flipper 7 will bebiased toward the right and the bowed portion 8 will be deflected to theright and into contact with button 19a. When the thermowire heats andelongates, the flipper under its own tension will move to the left andthe bowed portion 8 will snap against stop 21.

The lower portion of the flipper 7 is connected by a resistance coil 22to a light bulb terminal 23 upon the base 14. A core 22a in the coil isadapted for attracting an armature 26 constituting a flange on an angleclip 25a attached to the base 14 and the pilot light post 24 beneath thebase. The angle 25a constitutes an electrical conductor with a button 26on the flange 25 which is flexible and normally biased upwardly. Thebutton is adapted to engage a button 27 on the flipper 7. When thelights are on, current also passes thru the angle 25a to the pilot lightposts 24. If the lights go out, the pilot light will also go out.

The bowed portion of the flipper is provided with a bevelled contactbutton 8a which is adapted to engage the button 19a when the thermowirecools and contracts. When these bevelled buttons come into engagementthru the snap action of the bowed portion 8, there occurs more or lessof a wiping action which tends to cleanse the contacts and preventfreezing thereof which results in destructive heating.

In Fig. 6, there is shown a wiring diagram showing a battery 30 fromwhich the current emerges through the conducting wire 31 to a mainswitch 32 from which the current passes through a wire 31a to post 20connected to directly through the flipper 8 to the contacts 26 and 27and through the armature 2525a to the post 24 of the -pilot light 37. Atthe same time, current will also flow to the coil 22 and post 23 and tothe light 35, from which the current goes to the ground 36. At the sametime, a part of the current will also flow from the button 8a to the topof the flipper at 12 and through the wire 13 to the anchor post 16 andcoil 18 is directly grounded.

In the operation of the switch, the main switch 32 will be closedallowing the current to pass thru the conductor 19 (Fig. 1) to thebutton 8a on the flipper, a part of the current will immediately passdown thru the flipper to the lamp terminal 23 for illuminating the lampsas soon as the switch is closed.

The other part of the current will pass up thru the flipper to thethermo-responsive wire 13 and down thru said wire directly to ground orthe battery. When the wire 13 heats and elongates, it will release thetension on the flipper 7 and allow the same to move toward the left andcause the bowed portion 8 to snap or be deflected to the opposite sideof the flipper for engaging the stop 21 whereupon the wire will cool andcontract and cause the parts to assume the positions shown in Fig. 1.

In the switch involving this invention, the current passing thru thewire 13 to ground and battery constitutes the control current, while thecurrent passing down thru the flipper to the lamps constitutes the loadcurrent; the first one may be termed the control circuit and the otherthe load circuit.

The resistance wire 13 has a predetermined ohmic resistance whichremains constant. As a result, the control circuit which is independentof the load circuit will always function to make and break the switch;it will function if there is no lamp load on the load circuit; it willfunction with several difierent lamps and any number that may be withinthe capacity of the battery or source of energy. Thus in having the loadcurrent independent of the control current, the latter will alwaysfunction under different and various lamp loads.

In accordance with this invention, the lights are immediatelyilluminated when the main switch is closed. This is a very desirablefeature. In the second place, the control current will always functionto break and make the current irrespective of the lamp load, providedthat it is within the capacity of the source of electrical energy. Thisis an exceedingly desirable feature and a feature which the trade isdemanding, since the flasher switches now on the market will not givesuch a performance. To provide a wiping action at the contacts is verybeneficial.

I am aware that many changes may be made and various details ofconstruction may be modified without departing from the spirit andprinciples of this invention, so I do not propose limiting the patentgranted otherwise than necessitated by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a flasher switch, an insulated base, a lamp circuit terminal onsaid base, an upwardly extending electrical current conductive flipperrigidly secured at its lower end on the base in electrical connectionwith said lamp circuit terminal, said flipper having a bowed deflectableportion, a contact element carried by said bowed portion, a conductorarm secured at its lower end on the base and extending upwardlytherefrom in-substantially parallel spaced relation to the flipper, aconductor terminal on the base connected to the lower end of theconductor arm, a contact element on the upper portion of the conductorarm and normally engaged by the contact element on the bowed portion ofthe flipper for establishing a circuit through said flipper to the lampcircuit terminal, a thermoresponsive wire connected at its upper end tothe upper end of the flipper and anchored at its lower end on the base,a conductor terminal connected to the lower end of the wire, and a stopfor arresting the movement of the bowed portion of the flipper away fromthe conductor arm in current olf position.

2. In a flasher switch, an insulated base, a lamp circuit terminal onsaid base, an upwardly extending electrical current conductive flippersecured at its lower end on the base in electrical connection with thelamp circuit terminal, said flipper having its upper portion freelymovable, a bowed portion carried by the intermediate part of the flipperand adapted to be snapped from one side to the other, a contact elementcarried by said bowed portion, a conductor arm secured at its lower endon said base and extending upwardly therefrom in substantially parallelrelation to the flipper, a conductor terminal on the base connected tothe lower end of the conductor arm, a contact element on the upperportion of the conductor arm and normally engaged by the contact elementon the bowed portion of the flipper, a single thermoresponsive wireextending between the base and the upper end of the flipper, a conductorterminal connected to the lower end of the wire, and a stop arranged onthe side of the flipper opposite to the conductor arm for arresting themovement of the bowed portion of the flipper away from the conductor armin current off position.

3. In a flasher switch, an insulated base, a current carrying armextending upwardly from the base, a contact element carried by the upperportion of the arm, a conductor terminal connected to the lower end ofthe arm, an off circuit stop member arranged in spaced relation to theupper portion of the arm, an electrical conductive flipper secured atits lower end on the base and extending upwardly between the arm andstop member, a conductor terminal connected to the lower end of theflipper, a bowed portion on the upper portion of the flipper, a contactelement carried by said bowed portion and normally engaging the contactelement on said arm, a single thermoresponsive wire secured at its upperend to the upper free end of the flipper, the lower end of the wirebeing anchored to the base, a conductor terminal connected to the lowerend of the wire, said wire normally biasing the flipper for causing thecontact elements to be held in engagement with each other andsimultaneously establishing a circuit through the wire and the terminalconnected with the lower end of the flipper.

4. In a flasher switch of the character defined in claim 3, wherein theparts are so arranged that upon the heating of the thermo-responsivewire, the latter will be elongated to release the tension of saidflipper and cause the bowed portion of the flipper to move and snapagainst the stop member to break the circuit.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,272,021 Riche Feb. 3, 1942 2,308,522 Leuthold Jan. 19, 1943 2,354,635Harmon July 25, 1944 2,363,280 Arnold Nov. 21, 1944 2,659,787 PrickettNov. 17, 1953

